Can a gas fireplace be installed in a home that runs on oil?
If you use oil for heating, there's nothing stopping you from having a gas fireplace. Your home probably isn't equipped for natural gas, but never fear; you can install a propane fireplace, which is just as efficient as a natural gas one.
Lease a Propane Tank
Your gas fireplace will be completely disconnected from the oil-heating system. You can install the fireplace in any part of the house you wish, but it will have to be connected to pipes that lead to a propane tank located somewhere outside the house. Most propane companies lease these tanks for a small yearly fee, and they maintain them when they make a propane delivery.
Size the Tank
To determine the cost of running your propane fireplace, you must first calculate how many British thermal units you need to provide the heating you require. Some companies measure propane in gallons, and others use pounds. One gallon of propane contains 91,500 BTU; 1 pound contains 22,000 BTU. Running a 40,000-BTU log fireplace for eight hours every day consumes about 100 gallons of propane a month, so leasing a 500-gallon tank and filling it should supply your heating needs for most of the winter.